Shaft mounting means

ABSTRACT

The means comprises a pair of spaced-apart walls which have arcuate recesses therein for receiving the flatted ends of an earth cutter shaft. Retainers fit across the flats formed in the ends of the shaft and are secured within the recesses and against camming surfaces of the walls. In response to any unwanted undesirable rotation of the shaft, the retainers rotate relative to an axial center of the shaft to force ends thereof, which abut the camming surfaces more securely into the recesses so that the retainer is jammed or wedged in place. This results in positively inhibiting further rotation of the shaft.

United States Patent [191 Eoslsi 1 1 SHAFT MOUNTING MEANS [75] Inventor: William 1). Coski, Mercer Island,

Wash.

[73] Assignee: lngersoll-Rand Company, Woodcliff Lake, NJ.

[22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 I21 1 App]. No.1 338,372

[52] 11.8. C1. 403/355 [51] int. Cl ..B25g 3/00, E161) 7/00, F16b 9/00, E2lb 17/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..403/355,365,367,375, 0. ./35 QZ [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,323,817 6/1967 Hollyday 403/367 3,578,363 5/1971 DeRocker et a1 403/367 X 3,601,207 8/1971 Coski et a1 175/313 [4 1 Sept. 17, 1974 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larl in Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bernard J. Murphy [57] ABSTRACT The means comprises a pair of spaced-apart walls which have arcuate recesses therein for receiving the flatted ends of an earth cutter shaft.

Retainers fit across the flats formed in the ends of the shaft and are secured within the recesses and against camming surfaces of the walls. In response to any unwanted undesirable rotation of the shaft, the retainers rotate relative to an axial center of the shaft to force ends thereof, which abut the camming surfaces more securely into the recesses so that the retainer is jammedor wedged in place. This results in p ositive1y ifihiEit ing fiEth'eTroiafiii 6f the shaftl 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHAFT MoUNTiNo MEANS This invention pertains to means for mounting earth cutting shafts which, typically, have locking flats formed thereon at opposite ends thereof.

The instant disclosure sets forth a structure which is similar in many respects to an earlier shaft mounting disclosure which was a subject of US. Pat. No. 3,601,207, issued to me and William H. Hamilton, on Aug. 24, 1971, for a Cutter Assembly.

The structure described herein, like that of the mounting taught by the patent cited, comprises means for securely mounting a shaft for earth cutters which includes simple, facile means for replacing the shaft. The earlier mounting is reasonably effective in most applications, and comprises a locking bar for disposition across the locking flat of the shaft. The bar has a dowel extension which fits into a side wall of the mounting, and the bar, further is bolted to the wall of a cage-type support. Such structure is sturdy, but it comprises a static assembly. That is, the mating parts are properly dimensioned and formed to cooperate in a well-fitted assembly, but when the earth cutter shaft exhibits any rotation, which is quite undesirable, the mounting. assembly has no means for making any kind of active response in opposition to the rotation. The staticallyassembled unit, simply, is stressed, as it resists the shaft rotation, and either it holds or fractures and fails. It is an object of this invention to set forth a responsive mounting means for earth cutter shafts, one which is automatically reactive to rotation of the shaft to cause retainer means to bind forcefully and securely in a mounting wall to inhibit further rotation of the shaft.

The means described herein, typically, are used for earth cutter shafts which do not rotate and which carry rotating earth cutters on bearings.

It is an object of this invention, then, to teach a mounting means for an earth cutter shaft having at least one transverse flat, comprising wall means for supporting an earth cutter shaft thereon; said wall means having a recess formed therein for receiving a portion of said shaft; and retainer means for replaceable fastening thereof to said wall means, in engagement with said recess, for retaining said shaft in said recess; said retainer means having a flat bearing surface for engaging, and defining an interface with, said shaft flat, for restraining said shaft against rotation; and whereinsaid wall means and said retainer means have mating surfaces which, responsive to any rotation of said shaft, effect a relative slidable movement therebetween to cause said retainer means to bind in said recess and prevent further rotation of said shaft.

A feature of this invention comprises a pair of spaced-apart walls which have arcuate recesses therein for receiving the flatted ends of an earth cutter shaft. Retainers fit across the flats formed in the ends of the shaft and are secured within the recesses and against camming surfaces of the walls. In response to any unwanted undesirable rotation of the shaft, the retainers rotate relative to an axial center of the shaft to force ends thereof, which abut the camming surfaces, more securely into the recesses so that the retainer is jammed or wedged in place. This results in positively inhibiting further rotation of the shaft.

Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent, by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a small isometric projection of the parallel walls, and base, of an embodiment of the mounting means, with the shaft and retainer means removed so that the arcuate recesses can be seen;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevation of the novel mounting means depicting the arrangement in one wall, with the retainer means and the shaft in place;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 33 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is an isolated, isometric projection of the retainer element used in this embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a pictorial diagram of the response" of the mounting means in reaction to a rotation of the shaft.

As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the novel mounting means 10 comprises a pair of spaced-apart, parallel walls 12 which are joined by a base 14, with each of the walls having a recess 16formed therein. FIG. 2 shows the recess 16 to have an arcuately-formed surface 18 which defines a major portion of a circle. Also, the recess has a camming surface 20 to receive one end of a retainer in abutting and slidable relationship. A flat land 22 is disposed between the arcuate surface 18 and the camming surface 20. An earth cutter shaft 24 is mounted in the recess. 16. Each end of the shaft 24 (though only one end thereof is shown) has a transverse locking flat 26 formed thereon which defines a shoulder 28 (FIG. 3). An elongate retainer 30 is set into the recess 16. One end of the retainer defines a beveled surface 32, which slidably abuts surface 20 of the recess. The elongate retainer 30 has a arcuatelyformed surface 34 (FIG. 4) on the other end, this other end being set into the wall 12. Surface 34 of the retainer 30 forms an interface with a portion of the arcu ate surface 18. In addition, the retainer has a flat bearing surface 36 which is set across the flat 26 and against the shoulder 28 on the shaft 24 to hold the shaft securely in place. Further, the retainer 30 has a bolt hole 38 formed therethrough to receive bolt 41) which extends into the wall 12 into a drilled hole 42 where, to ward the bottom, it is engaged by a round nut 44.

In typical use, the mounting means 10 is set onto a large cutterhead which is rotated before the face of a rock surface, and the shaft 24 carries an earth cutter for abrading the face. Accordingly, side 1" is the lead ing side, and with its leading movement causes a rota tion of a cutter 46 (shown only in phantom) on itsbearmgs.

As those skilled in this art can appreciate, the bearings which rotatably carry the cutter 46 on the shaft 24 are given to failure. With failure, they seize, and cause the shaft 24 to rotate and remove from its mounting Now then, the instant mounting means 10 will prevent this, in having means which react positively to shaft rotation to constrain the shaft against further rotation;

The retainer 30 arcuate surface 34 is complementary with the radius of the recess surface 18, so that with any rotation of the shaft 24, the retainer is forced to rotate about the radial center R. Retainer surface 34 cannot remove from recess 16 upwardly or laterally; it is closed within. All it can do is rotate, by sliding along the upper portion of surface 18 of recess 16. With rotation of the retainer about the radial center R, the other end of the retainer necessarily must move into the recess 16, in the direction of the land 22, to cause a binding or wedging thereof in the recess 16. Clearly, as FIG. 3 shows, the retainer can not possibly lift up out of the recess. Thus, if flat 26 of shaft 24 rotates, this results in a movement of the beveled surface 32 of the retainer 30 slidably along the camming surface 20 into closure toward the land 22. Accordingly, the retainer 30 becomes jammed within the recess 16.

While the degrees of movement are exaggerated, in FIG. 5, the depiction clearly illustrates the reactive response of the means to shaft rotation. A normal or correct disposition of the shaft 24 is shown in dashedline outline, and a bearing-seizure rotational positioning thereof shown in full line outline. Conversely, a normal disposition of the retainer 30 is shown in dashedline outline, and a shaft-rotation reactive positioning thereof is shown in full line outline. When shaft flat 26 bears with force at point a, the retainer 30 is caused to rotate about radial center R bearing with some force at b against the shank of the bolt 40 if there be too little clearance in hole 38, and effecting a jammed wedging of beveled surface 32 against camming surface 20, especially at point c. The beveled surface end of retainer 30 is actually caused to slue and move a distance Z into the recess 16. Further, the inward movement and the camming action more forcefully binds surface 34 in the recess surfaces 18. As a result, no further rotation of shaft 24 is possible.

The configuration of the recess 16 and wall 12 cooperate to protect the bolt 40 against undue abrasion from the rock face and cuttings. The wall 12 and recess 16 define means which surround the radial center R for substantially three-quarters of a circumference thereof. Adjacent, radial terminations 50 and 52 of wall 12 serve as buffer surfaces which cooperate to protect the bolt 40. In FIG. 2, projection lines drawn across terminations 50 and 52, and a knee end 54 of retainer 30, illustrate that substantially most of the head of bolt 40 is unexposed, or buffered against wear terminations 50 and 52, and knee 54 as well, providing the warranted protection.

The novel mounting means 10 is a more compact, integrated assembly than that disclosed in the earliernoted U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,207; it comprises a considerably shorter width (as viewed in FIG. 2) than the earlier, patented mounting means.- More significantly, surely, the new means 10 here disclosed, in being selflocking or self-binding does not have to rely on the durable integrity of the bolt 40 (FIG. 2) to hold the retainer 30 in restraint of the shaft 24. In fact, if the bolt 40 happened to be sheared off, or disloged and fallen free of bolt hole 38, retainer 30 will nonetheless restrain shaft 24 with no diminution of efficiency. Very simply, it is not bolt 40 which, in the final analysis, causes retainer 30 to restrain shaft 24. Rather, the selflocking or self-binding restraint arises from the novel arrangement and cooperation of surfaces 34 and 18 visa-vis a rotational force of locking flat 26 against the flat bearing surface 36. Substantially all of this force is met by the upper, lesser portion of surface 18 which, clearly, the retainer cannot withdraw as the beveled surface 32, on moving at all, moves only into a more binding lock-up with surface 20.

While I have described my invention in connection with a specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example, and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects and in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. Mounting means, for an earth cutter shaft having at least one transverse flat, comprising:

wall means for supporting an earth cutter shaft thereon; said wall means having a recess formed therein for receiving a portion of said shaft; and retainer means for replaceable fastening thereof to said wall means, in engagement with said recess, for retaining said shaft in said recess; said retainer means having a flat bearing surface for engaging, and defining an interface with, said shaft flat, for restraining said shaft against rotation; and wherein said wall means and said retainer means have mating surfaces which, responsive to any rotation of said shaft, effect a relative slidable movement therebetween to cause said retainer means to bind in said recess and prevent further rotation of said shaft. 2. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein: said recess has an arcuately-formed surface which defines an major portion of a circle; a greater portion of said arcuately-formed surface receives a portion of said shaft, and a lesser portion thereof receives a first end of said retainer means;

said first end of said retainer means, also having an arcuately-formed surface, substantially defines a segment of a circle;

and said first end is caused to slide along said lesser portion of said recess, with shaft rotation, to cause a second opposite end of said retainer means to slue through an are.

3. Mounting means, according to claim I, wherein:

said recess has a first, arcuately-formed surface,

which defines a major portion of a circle and a second, camming surface;

said first and second surfaces being spaced apart by a third land surface of said recess;

said retainer means comprises an elongate element;

said element has an arcuately-formed surface at one end thereof, defining of said one end, substantially, a segment of a circle, said element further having a beveled surface at the other end thereof;

said other and one ends of said element effect complementary engagement and interface with said second surface, and a portion of said first surface, respectively, with said element in spaced-apart relationship to said land surface; and wherein movement of said one end of said element along said first surface, outwardly relative to said recess, causes said other end of said element to move into greater proximity to said land surface.

4. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein;

said retainer means comprises an elongate element;

said element has a beveled surface at one end, the other end thereof substantially defining a segment of a circle, having an arcuately-formed surface on said other end;

said recess has a first, arcuately-formed surface,

which defines a major portion ofa circle, and a second camming surface;

said first and second surfaces are spaced apart by a third, land surface of said recess;

said retainer means further comprises means for securing said element to said wall means to cause said beveled surface to abut said camming surface, to cause said element to be disposed in spaced-apart relationship to said land surface, and to cause said arcuately-formed surface of said other end of said element to interface with a portion of said first surface of said recess;

said arcuately-formed surfaces of said element and said recess have a common radial center, and rotary movement of said element about said center, along said portion of said first, arcuately-formed surface of said recess, causes said camming and beveled surface to effect relative slidable movement therebetween.

5. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein:

said retainer means comprises an elongate element;

said element has a beveled surface at one end, the other end thereof substantially defining a segment of a circle, having an arcuately-formed surface on said other end;

said recess has a first, arcuately-formed surface which defines a major portion of a circle, and a second camming surface;

said first and second surfaces are spaced apart by a third, land surface of said recess;

said retainer means further comprises means for securing said element to said wall means to cause said beveled surface to abut said camming surface, to cause said element to be disposed in spaced-apart relationship to said land surface, and to cause said arcuately-formed surface of said other end of said element to interface with a portion of said first surface of said recess;

said arcuately-formed surfaces of said element and said recess have a common radial center, and rotary movement of said element about said center, in a given direction along said portion of said first,

arcuately-formed surface of said recess, causes said beveled surface to move inwardly relative to said recess.

6. Mounting means, according to claim 5, wherein:

said retainer means further comprises means for fastening said element to said wall means;

said wall means comprises a wall which circumscribes said radial center for substantially threequarters of a circumference thereof; and

adjacent, radial terminations of said wall, relative to said center, define buffer surfaces which cooperate to protect said fastening means from abrasion.

7. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein:

said wall means comprises a pair of parallel spacedapart walls; and

each of said walls has one said recess formed therein:

8. Mounting means, for a stationary earth cutter shaft, comprising first means for supporting a stationary earth cutter shaft; and

second means for replaceable fastening thereof, with a given degree of engagement, to said first means for securing a stationary earth cutter shaft to said first means against rotation; wherein;

said first and second means have surfaces which are cooperative, in response to an inadvertent rotation of a stationary earth cutter shaft supported by said first means, to cause said second means to bind to said first means with a greater degree of engagement than said given degree, effectively to prevent further inadvertent shaft rotation.

9. Mounting means, for an earth cutter shaft, according to claim 8, wherein:

said surfaces of said first and second means define means which cause said second means to rotate, relative to said first means, in response to a rotation of an earth cutter shaft supported by said first means. 

1. Mounting means, for an earth cutter shaft having at least one transverse flat, comprising: wall means for supporting an earth cutter shaft thereon; said wall means having a recess forMed therein for receiving a portion of said shaft; and retainer means for replaceable fastening thereof to said wall means, in engagement with said recess, for retaining said shaft in said recess; said retainer means having a flat bearing surface for engaging, and defining an interface with, said shaft flat, for restraining said shaft against rotation; and wherein said wall means and said retainer means have mating surfaces which, responsive to any rotation of said shaft, effect a relative slidable movement therebetween to cause said retainer means to bind in said recess and prevent further rotation of said shaft.
 2. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein: said recess has an arcuately-formed surface which defines an major portion of a circle; a greater portion of said arcuately-formed surface receives a portion of said shaft, and a lesser portion thereof receives a first end of said retainer means; said first end of said retainer means, also having an arcuately-formed surface, substantially defines a segment of a circle; and said first end is caused to slide along said lesser portion of said recess, with shaft rotation, to cause a second opposite end of said retainer means to slue through an arc.
 3. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein: said recess has a first, arcuately-formed surface, which defines a major portion of a circle and a second, camming surface; said first and second surfaces being spaced apart by a third land surface of said recess; said retainer means comprises an elongate element; said element has an arcuately-formed surface at one end thereof, defining of said one end, substantially, a segment of a circle, said element further having a beveled surface at the other end thereof; said other and one ends of said element effect complementary engagement and interface with said second surface, and a portion of said first surface, respectively, with said element in spaced-apart relationship to said land surface; and wherein movement of said one end of said element along said first surface, outwardly relative to said recess, causes said other end of said element to move into greater proximity to said land surface.
 4. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein;: said retainer means comprises an elongate element; said element has a beveled surface at one end, the other end thereof substantially defining a segment of a circle, having an arcuately-formed surface on said other end; said recess has a first, arcuately-formed surface, which defines a major portion of a circle, and a second camming surface; said first and second surfaces are spaced apart by a third, land surface of said recess; said retainer means further comprises means for securing said element to said wall means to cause said beveled surface to abut said camming surface, to cause said element to be disposed in spaced-apart relationship to said land surface, and to cause said arcuately-formed surface of said other end of said element to interface with a portion of said first surface of said recess; said arcuately-formed surfaces of said element and said recess have a common radial center, and rotary movement of said element about said center, along said portion of said first, arcuately-formed surface of said recess, causes said camming and beveled surface to effect relative slidable movement therebetween.
 5. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein: said retainer means comprises an elongate element; said element has a beveled surface at one end, the other end thereof substantially defining a segment of a circle, having an arcuately-formed surface on said other end; said recess has a first, arcuately-formed surface which defines a major portion of a circle, and a second camming surface; said first and second surfaces are spaced apart by a third, land surface of said recess; said retainer means further comprises means for securing said element to said wall means To cause said beveled surface to abut said camming surface, to cause said element to be disposed in spaced-apart relationship to said land surface, and to cause said arcuately-formed surface of said other end of said element to interface with a portion of said first surface of said recess; said arcuately-formed surfaces of said element and said recess have a common radial center, and rotary movement of said element about said center, in a given direction along said portion of said first, arcuately-formed surface of said recess, causes said beveled surface to move inwardly relative to said recess.
 6. Mounting means, according to claim 5, wherein: said retainer means further comprises means for fastening said element to said wall means; said wall means comprises a wall which circumscribes said radial center for substantially three-quarters of a circumference thereof; and adjacent, radial terminations of said wall, relative to said center, define buffer surfaces which cooperate to protect said fastening means from abrasion.
 7. Mounting means, according to claim 1, wherein: said wall means comprises a pair of parallel spaced-apart walls; and each of said walls has one said recess formed therein:
 8. Mounting means, for a stationary earth cutter shaft, comprising first means for supporting a stationary earth cutter shaft; and second means for replaceable fastening thereof, with a given degree of engagement, to said first means for securing a stationary earth cutter shaft to said first means against rotation; wherein; said first and second means have surfaces which are cooperative, in response to an inadvertent rotation of a stationary earth cutter shaft supported by said first means, to cause said second means to bind to said first means with a greater degree of engagement than said given degree, effectively to prevent further inadvertent shaft rotation.
 9. Mounting means, for an earth cutter shaft, according to claim 8, wherein: said surfaces of said first and second means define means which cause said second means to rotate, relative to said first means, in response to a rotation of an earth cutter shaft supported by said first means. 